How does feedback alter the sound of an electric guitar?

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Koto — stringed instrument A Japanese musician plucking the strings of a koto with the right hand to generate a pitch and pressing the strings with the left hand to alter the tone.

Feedback in an electric guitar occurs when sound from the amplifier is picked up by the guitar's pickups and sent back through the system, creating a continuous loop. This process alters the sound by producing a sustained, often high-pitched, whining, or rumbling noise.1

While this effect is sometimes considered an unwanted artifact of excessive volume or gain, many musicians intentionally use it as a creative tool to add sustain and texture to their performance. By positioning the instrument in specific ways relative to the amplifier, players can control the intensity and pitch of the feedback to enhance their sound.